[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A tight chase ended with the hosts claiming a narrow one wicket win with one ball to spare in the only warm up game between Sri Lanka Cricket Team and Australia Prime ministers XI at Canberra. 

In the absence of Lasith Malinga, Niroshan Dickwella walked in for the toss which he won and elected to bat first. In form Dhanushka Gunathilaka missed out in the warm up as himself and His opening partner Kusal Mendis were dismissed cheaply. However, the two new faces in the T20 squad, Bhanuka Rajapaksha and Oshadha Fernando found the middle of the bat quite a few times as they chipped in with two brisk cameos. Apart from this two, others fell away cheaply as the hosts kept chipping away.

Leg spinning all rounder Wanindu Hasaranga managed to get a good knock in the middle and his knock of 26, got Sri Lanka to a below par total of 131 in their 20 overs. With nothing much to defend, the Lankan bowlers had a stiff challenge. They stuck to their strengths and once again managed to put the breaks on and find breakthroughs in different intervals.

Kasun Rajitha and Nuwan Pradeep got the early wickets while Lakshan Sandakan tightened the screws in the middle period along with Wanindu Hasaranga. Sandakan was the standout with 3 for 21 in his 4 overs. Opening batsman Harry Nielsen was the lone fighter for the hosts as he carried the team to the last over with a knock of 79. Rajitha managed to get the big wicket in the first ball of the last over but, he couldn’t defend the 8 runs as Fawad Ahmed guided the hosts over the line with a ball to spare.

Sri Lanka 131/8 (20) Oshada Fernando 38, Wanindu Hasaranga 26, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 24, Daniel Christian 2/16, Djali Bloomfield 2/17

Australia Prime Minister’s XI 132/9 (19.5) Harry Nielsen 79, Lakshan Sandakan 3/21, Kasun Rajitha 3/21

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